Come 2017 these are the two books I intend taking in small doses throughout the year:
I had read Book IX of Paradise Lost back in college, and it was beautiful. Yet I have not been able to get around to reading all twelve books as I have always struggled through epic verses. It is not that I don't understand what I read, merely that prose sticks better with me. However, I am determined to read Paradise Lost and have so decided to imbibe it bit by bit. I shall, therefore, be stretching it out over the entire year -- one book per month.
If you would like to join me, welcome! I would be delighted to read it with you. I am hoping to post a little something after each book at the end of each month. But I don't intend making it a 'have to'.
January - Book I
February - Book II
March - Book III
April - Book IV
May - Book V
June - Book VI
July - Book VII
August - Book VIII
September - Book IX
October - Book X
November - Book XI
December - Book XII
Now, where The Lord of the Rings is concerned, it has been many years since I last read it, and I've been meaning to re-read it for a long while. Nearly two years ago I bought myself a slipcase edition that has split the novel into its seven separate parts. I have decided to read a book a month starting from January 2017 through July 2017. I would love to write about each book after I am done. But again, I am not going to make it compulsory for myself, because the moment I do so I am bound not to! If you would like to join me in this relaxed re-reading of The Lord of the Rings I would be happy to have some company.
The Fellowship of the Ring
January - Book One: The Ring Sets Out
February - Book Two: The Ring Goes South
The Two Towers
March - Book Three: The Treason of Isengard
April - Book Four: The Ring Goes East
The Return of the King
May - Book Five: The War of the Ring
June - Book Six: The End of the Third Age
July - Appendices
It would be wonderful if I could stick to this schedule and complete these two books!
Best of luck!! It's so fun to make reading plans. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is! I love making these lists. But this is one I want to stick to...I've been meaning to read/re-read these in a VERY long time!
DeleteI was tempted, but PL is on my WEM poetry list and I kind of want to wait. Last year, my kids and I read a children's version (which was very well done). I struggle with poetry, and it would be encouraging to have someone to read along with. Looks like a great reading schedule, too. Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteOh! I do hope you decide to join me. I understand completely how poetry can be a struggle. If I were to study and dissect it, I would do so without a moment's hesitation. But to just be able to sit back and enjoy it like I would a novel?...that's tough!
Deleteooo. If I didn't already have some very solid plans for next year's reading, I'd totally join you for Paradise Lost. I tried a while back and gave up because I moved homes and never picked up the book again once I'd settled. But I'm reading the Bible next year, as well as a political reading project.
ReplyDeleteI'd wanted to make the Bible-in-a-year a reading project too, but I suspect I wouldn't be able to do it. When I pick the Bible up I can't just read it...I need to study it, and that takes me awhile! I'd like to be able to do so someday, though. I want to read the KJV!
DeleteAnyway, if you change your mind please do join me.:)
I added these to the 2017 Directory, Risa.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!:)
DeleteI want to reread LOTR this year, as it's been since 2013, and that's way too long to go between rereads. I'm going to join you, tentatively. A relaxed re-reading sounds exactly like what I need, but I also have a bunch of stuff on my plate right now and am not sure if I'll manage it. But I'm putting your button on the sidebar of my blog.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool. Thank you, Hamlette! I hope we get to read this together. It has been too long since I last read it. Last year I gave a close friend of mine by old copy of the book and asked her to make notes in it while she was reading, just so I had another person's opinion in it...you know...sounds a bit lame, but I cherish that copy all the more now because of her random, sporadic comments inked in blue here and there.
DeleteWhat a cool idea! Mine has only my own notes in it, but I would love to have my best friend's thoughts in it as well. I don't think that's lame, I think that's brilliant and lovely.
DeleteI might be interested in joining you in Paradise Lost.
ReplyDeletePlease do! I'll be very glad of the company.:)
DeleteOh cool! I've never read the Lord of the Rings, so I might join you for that! With just the three books, how does that work?
ReplyDeleteThe first time in is exciting! The adventure...the discovery... I hope you do join in.:D
DeleteIf we consider each book a volume, then each volume is divided into two books. I don't know how the trilogy packing/printing works, but Book One in The Fellowship of the Ring is from chapters 1 to 12. The rest make up Book Two. Book One in The Two Towers would be from 1 to 11. There rest is Book Two. Chapters 1 to 10 make up Book One in The Return of the King.
I guess I'll put all this down a little more clearly in the post...
Awesome! I will join!!!!!!!!!!!
DeleteI have the whole trilogy in one volume, and they still divide it out into the 6 books -- I would think most editions would.
DeleteI'm getting really excited for this!
Great! :)
Delete@ Hamlette: So am I!:D
DeleteHibernator's Library mentioned you were reading LOTR in 2017 too. My readalong starts a month after yours and also includes The Hobbit. But we'll be able to have some good Middle Earth chats along the way and any of your slower readers could have my schedule as a backup :-D
ReplyDeleteHLOTRreadalong2017 with Brona's Books
Sounds good...looks like we might have a lot of Middle-Earth discussions next year which is always fun, I think. :D
DeleteI might join you for Paradise Lost. Might. I'm sorely tempted, even though I have my Bible-reading plans...But I've been wanting to read PL for a while.
ReplyDeleteLet me tempt you...it shouldn't be more than 30-40 pages a month. :D
DeleteI told myself "no more challenges" - but I'm so tempted by your LOTR relaxed read! I'll keep it in mind and hopefully fit it in. It's been almost ten years since I read it (time flies!!).
ReplyDeleteTen years is a long time!... Do pop in and join us whenever you can. Discussion will always be open, even should you not be able to read with us next year. :)
DeleteOkay, I just finished re-reading LotR on Christmas Eve (I was reading it to 3 of my younger siblings for the first time), but I think I'll join. I generally read the trilogy at least twice a year, I do all three books in a month, 2 chapters a day, but I think I will enjoy trying a relaxed reading.
ReplyDeleteWoW!...you're quite the fan!:D I'm glad you've decided to join us for your first LotR re-read of the year.^^
DeleteI am joining in with this. I have a seven volume version of Lord of the Rings so it makes sense to join in as I have been meaning to re read this book for a long time since the movies came out.
ReplyDeleteLovely! Welcome!
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